39. Katharine Jaffray (Child 221)
Despite the popularity of Scott's 'Young Lochinvar,' which is derived from it, this ballad has seldom appeared in records of traditional singing since the early part of the last century. Greig records it from Scotland (LL 158-61); on this side of the water
it is reported from Nova Scotia (SENS 22-4), Maine (BBM 400-6), and Vermont (NGMS 141-4, CSV 20-1, both of these originally from Ireland). It is not recorded from tradition in the South except in our collection.
'Katherine Jeffrys.' Secured by Mrs. Sutton from the singing of Mrs. Farthing of Beech Creek, Avery county, whose grandfather, so she claimed, fought in "the war," meaning the Revolutionary War.
1 There lived a girl in yonder glen,
A girl in yonder glen O,
And Katherine Jefifrys was her name,
Well loved by many men O.
2 One day come up Lord Willie brave,
All from the South countree,
All for to court this pretty maid:
'Oh, say, won't you marry me?'
3 He asked her father and mother both.
Her brother and all her kin.
And last of all asked her, herself.
The maid he come to win.
4 There come another, Lord Robert bold,
From o'er across the border
All for to court this pretty maid,
Well ridin' in good order.
5 He axed no ma, he axed no pa,
He axed the girl alone.
'My pretty maid, won't you marry me?
I want ye fur my own.'
6 'My father and mother have promised me
All to another man;
But I love you and you I'll wed.
If it's only so I can.'
7 The day was set and friends all met
Her weddin' fur to see.
Lord Robert bold rode to the house
A weddin' guest to be.
8 Oh did you come for sport, young man,
Or did you come for play?
Or did you come for to see pretty Kate
All on her weddin' day?'
9 'I did not come for sport,' he said,
'Nor did I come for play;
But I wanted one sight o' pretty Kate
All on her weddin' day.'
10 There stood a glass o' red, red wine
Upon the table there.
She picked it up and drunk a sip,
A-lookin' at her dear.
11 He took her by her lily-white hand
And by her grass-green sleeve,
He throwed her up across his horse;
O' Lord Willie he asked no leave.
12 He Stuck his spurs in his coal-black steed,
Took Kate in his strong, strong arm,
And galloped off across the border;
Her kin did them no harm.